A 36-year-old West Texas man indiscriminately opened fire on pedestrians along a Texas highway on Saturday killing seven people and wounding at least 22.

According to USA Today, the shooting began after the 36-year-old was pulled over by a Texas Department of Public Safety Officer for failing to use a turn signal.

USA Today reports that the 36-year-old – who was fired from his job earlier that day – shot the public safety officer before taking off in his car and opening fire on passers-by and fellow motorists.

Reportedly, the man indiscriminately opened fire at pedestrians and police officers in a chase that spanned over 10 miles. 

According to CNN, the chase ended with a shootout between the gunman and police which left several officers wounded and the shooter dead.

According to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, the shooter had a criminal record and previously failed a background check while trying to obtain a gun. Abbott wrote in a tweet, “Not only did the Odessa gunman have a criminal history… he also previously failed a gun purchase background check in Texas… & he didn’t go thru a background check for the gun he used in Odessa. We must keep guns out of criminals’ hands.”

Not only did the Odessa gunman have a criminal history…

…he also previously failed a gun purchase background check in Texas…

…& he didn’t go thru a background check for…

China’s recent crackdown on Christianity has led to intensified enforcement of a law already on the books: children and youth cannot convert to the faith until they’re 18.

Churches across China are canceling Sunday School classes for children in light of the new clampdown, according to Mission Network News. 

“One of the rules that have always been in their law is that you cannot proselytize or you cannot convert somebody under the age of 18,” Erik Burklin of China Partner told Mission Network News. 

Previously, he said, parents “were having their children come to church and many churches started what we would call Sunday School classes.”

“They would use that time to teach children Bible verses and teach them Christian songs and so forth,” Burklin said.

Now, though, many churches “have been notified” by China’s “Religious Affairs Bureau” that “you can no longer conduct Sunday School classes in your churches,” he said.

“They even put signage up in the entrance of some churches to indicate that,” Burklin said.

This means China Partner’s YouthServe ministry – aimed at teaching church leaders how to conduct ministry for teens ages 13 to 18 – is “problematic,” Mission Network News reported. 

During a recent trip, Burklin said, pastors approached him and said, “Please, we can no longer invite you to come and do these youth…

A new study, released by the Voter Study Group, illustrates a growing divide between how younger and older evangelicals perceive political issues, particularly those championed by President Trump. 

While older white evangelical Christians have been enthusiastic about President Trump and his policies, younger evangelicals do not share their views. While 80 percent of white evangelicals over 45 have a favorable view of the President, only 60 percent of younger evangelicals hold the same view. The disparity becomes even more pronounced when considering the percentage who hold a “very favorable” view of the President. 55 percent of older white evangelicals hold a “very favorable” view of President Trump compared with only 25 percent of younger white evangelicals.

One issue where the divide is quite pronounced is immigration. The survey shows that younger white evangelicals tend to hold a much more positive view about the effects of immigration on American life. One question asked if immigrants strengthen our country, are a burden on our country, or if the person thinks both, neither, or does not know. Older white evangelicals were more likely to view immigrants as a burden while younger white evangelicals considered them to be an asset to the country.

66 percent of those aged 18-34 said that immigrants strengthen the country, compared to only 32…

JOS, Nigeria, September 2, 2019 (Morning Star News) – More than a month after an aid worker indicated in a video that kidnapped Christian teenager Leah Sharibu had been killed, a government official in Nigeria on Saturday (Aug. 31) said she was alive.

Citing intelligence from security agencies, presidential spokesman Garba Shehu released a statement reaffirming that the government is negotiating with terrorists for the release of Leah and other captives.

“Contrary to false reports, she [Leah] is alive, given assurances from our security agencies, and the government is committed to her safe return, as well as all other hostages,” Shehu said. “Instead of giving up, the government is carrying forward processes that should hopefully yield her release by her captors.”

Lines of communications remain open with the kidnappers of Boko Haram, now called the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), to secure her release, he said.

“With the abduction of loved family and friends, the government understands how difficult these times are for them, but the government is pursuing many options to ensure the safe return of Leah Sharibu,” Shehu said. “The worrying cycle of speculations on whether Leah Sharibu, the kidnapped Dapchi schoolgirl, had been harmed by her abductors is what has made us to speak out.”

Though the government negotiated with Boko Haram for the…

To most of us, 16 is just another number, but for Mark Miller – Chick-fil-A’s Vice President of training and development – the number 16 is special. Mark was hired by Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy as the 16th member of the chicken chain’s corporate staff. 

When asked about Cathy, Miller recalls that Truett was both a tremendous leader and a special person in his life. 

“From the very beginning, since 1967, Truett thought leadership was important,” Miller recalled. 

Miller has done just about every job at the restaurant level at Chick-fil-A. He credits that diverse experience with being part of why he loves shaping and developing the company’s leadership culture and structure. 

He told Christian Headlines, “I’ve done just about everything within Chick-Fil-A. I started in the mailroom [and] I can’t believe that I’ve had the privilege of sitting around the table with Truett Cathy.” 

From busboy to holding a corporate position, there is nothing about his time at Chick-fil-A that Miller would change, the training and development leader shared. 

Loyal customers may not be surprised to learn how much Chick-fil-A invests in leadership development, but for the first-time visitor or the occasional customer, it may come as quite a shock. 

Miller is clear that although he heads-up leadership development, it takes a team of…